Northern Line (Thailand)

Northern Line
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerGovernment of Thailand
LocaleNorthern and Central Thailand
Termini
Connecting lines
Service
Type
Operator(s)State Railway of Thailand
Depot(s)
  • Bang Sue
  • Pak Nam Pho
  • Uttaradit
  • Lampang
History
Opened26 March 1896; 128 years ago (1896-03-26)
Completed1 January 1922; 102 years ago (1922-01-01)
Technical
Line length1,238.56 km (769.61 mi)
Number of tracks2–1
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Route map

km
km
0.00
Bangkok (Hua Lamphong)
2.17
Yommarat Halt
3.29
Chitralada
Ramathibodi Hospital Halt
4.80
Sam Sen
6.37
Pradiphat
Phahonyothin
freight yard
7.47
7.47
Bang Sue
Junction
Nikhom Rotfai km. 11
11.01
11.01
Chatuchak
Wat Samian Nari
12.50
12.50
Wat Samian Nari
Bang Khen
13.00
13.30
Bang Khen
Thung Song Hong
17.57
14.81
Thung Song Hong
Lak Si
17.57
17.57
Lak Si
Kan Kheha km. 19
19.47
19.47
Kan Kheha
Talat Mai Don Mueang
21.69
elevated stations served
only by Dark Red Line
22.21
Don Mueang
29.75
Rangsit
33.84
Khlong Nueng Halt
37.47
Chiang Rak
40.19
Thammasat Rangsit University Halt
44.12
Nava Nakhon Halt
46.01
Chiang Rak Noi
51.88
Khlong Phutsa
58.00
Bang Pa-in
62.75
Ban Pho
71.08
Ayutthaya
74.69
Ban Ma
78.98
Map Phra Chan
82.31
Ban Don Klang Halt
85.44
Phra Kaeo
89.95
Ban Phachi Junction
93.58
Don Ya Nang Halt
96.44
Nong Wiwat
99.16
Ban Plak Raet Halt
102.73
Tha Ruea
108.78
Ban Mo
116.56
Nong Don
121.72
Ban Klap
127.44
Ban Pa Wai
132.81
Lop Buri
137.51
Tha Khae
144.23
Khok Kathiam
150.08
Nong Tao
154.93
Nong Sai Khao
161.22
Ban Mi
165.94
Huai Kaeo
170.33
Phai Yai
172.90
Rong Rien Chansen
173.86
Chansen
176.63
Ban Kok Kwaow
180.20
Chong Khae
187.37
Thale Wa
188.65
Phon Thong
193.02
Ban Takhli
198.80
Dong Maku
204.06
Hua Wai
211.44
Nong Pho
217.22
Hua Ngiu
221.37
Ban Nong Mu
224.81
Noen Makok
231.35
Thung Nam Sum
235.49
Khao Thong
240.20
Ang Hin
245.78
Nakhon Sawan
250.56
Pak Nam Pho
257.15
Bueng Boraphet
263.68
Thap Krit
270.87
Khlong Pla Kot
280.29
Chumsaeng
290.24
Wang Krang
297.03
Bang Mun Nak
303.50
Ho Krai
309.87
Dong Takhop
319.00
Taphan Hin
324.91
Huai Ket
332.60
Hua Dong
339.36
Wang Krot
346.79
Phichit
354.26
Tha Lo
362.22
Bang Krathum
366.21
Mae Thiap
375.31
Ban Mai
381.87
Bueng Phra
389.28
Phitsanulok
393.75
Ban Teng Nam
400.00
Ban Tum
405.31
Khwae Noi
414.50
Phrom Phiram
423.20
Nong Tom
432.75
Ban Bung
437.41
Ban Khon
447.55
Phichai
453.98
Rai Oi
458.31
Ban Dara Junction
Tha Sak
461.80
466.32
Khlong Lamung
Tron
469.86
470.27
Khlong Maphlap
Wang Kaphi
476.82
474.96
Wat Khlong Pu
Uttaradit
485.17
479.03
Khlong Yang
Sila At
487.52
483.08
Nong Riang
Tha Sao
489.35
487.14
Sawankhalok
Nam Rit
493.31
497.56
Ban Dan
509.36
Pang Ton Phueng
513.72
Pang Tup Khop Tunnel (120.09 m)
516.41
Khao Phlueng Tunnel (362.44 m)
517.02
Khao Phlueng
521.48
Huai Rai
525.65
Rai Kled Dao
528.22
Mae Phuak Halt
533.94
Den Chai
538.43
Pak Pan
546.94
Kaeng Luang
554.42
Huai Mae Ta
563.86
Ban Pin
574.04
Huai Mae Lan Tunnel (130.20 m)
574.57
Huai Mae Lan
578.46
Pha Khan
581.22
Pha Kho
591.07
Pang Puai
600.33
Mae Chang
609.16
Mae Mo
614.15
Huai Rak Mai
622.20
Sala Pha Lat
628.45
Mae Tha
637.41
Nong Wua Thao
642.29
Nakhon Lampang
647.12
Bo Haeo
654.85
Hang Chat
660.98
Pang Muang
665.09
Huai Rian Halt
671.80
Mae Tan Noi
681.57
Khun Tan Tunnel (1.3521 km)
683.14
Khun Tan
691.89
Tha Chomphu
700.68
Sala Mae Tha
707.00
Huai Kiang
713.01
Nong Lom
723.59
Doi Ti
729.21
Lamphun
734.64
Pa Sao
742.78
Saraphi
751.42
Chiang Mai
km

The Northern Line is a railway line in Thailand, running between the capital Bangkok (at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal) and the northern city of Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai railway station). It is the second longest railway line in Thailand at 751 kilometres (467 mi) long, has 130 operational stations and halts, and is operated by the State Railway of Thailand. The line first opened in 1896. Major cities served by the line include Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Sawan, Phitsanulok, Lampang, and Chiang Mai.

The line's operations were severely affected during World War II.

Since January 2023, long-distance (Special Express, Express and Rapid) trains terminated at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok replacing Hua Lamphong station.

A new 323 kilometer-long branch line, from Den Chai to the Lao border at Chiang Khong, is under construction and is expected to open in 2028.[1][2]

History

Timeline[3]

No. Segment Year opened[4]
1 Ban Pachi JunctionLopburi 1 April 1901
2 Lopburi–Pak Nam Pho 1 November 1905
3 Pak Nam Pho–Phitsanulok 24 January 1908
4 Phitsanulok–Ban Dara Junction 11 November 1908
5 Ban Dara Junction–Pang Ton Phueng 15 August 1909
6 Pang Ton Phueng–Mae Phuak 1 June 1911
7 Mae Phuak–Pak Pan 15 November 1911
8 Pak Pan–Huai Mae Ta 1 May 1912
9 Huai Mae Ta–Ban Pin 15 June 1913
10 Ban Pin–Pha Kho 1 May 1914
11 Pha Kho–Mae Chang 15 December 1915
12 Mae Chang–Nakhon Lampang 1 April 1916
13 Nakhon Lampang–Pang Hua Phong 20 December 1916
14 Pang Hua Phong–Pang Yang 1 July 1918
15 Pang Yang–Chiang Mai 1 January 1922

Name changes

Name Old name[5] Year changed
Ayutthaya Krung Kao 1917
Nakhon Sawan Nong Pling 1956
Phrom Phiram Ban Krab Phuang
Tron Wang Hin
Saraphi Pa Yang Loeng 1961

Infrastructure

Chiang Mai railway station is the northern terminus of the line

The Northern Line is entirely single track, except at stations. Track gauge is 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) meter gauge. As the train frequency increases, it is becoming increasingly challenging to operate trains running both direction on the single-line track. Double-tracking has commenced between Lop Buri and Pak Nam Pho, and is planned for the rest of the line. [citation needed]

The Northern Line is not electrified. Regular services run on diesel power. The current maximum operating speed on the line is 100 km/h (62 mph).

Stations

Tunnels

Tunnel Image Length Location Note
Khun Tan Tunnel 1,352.15 m (4,436.2 ft) Lampang and Lamphun Province The longest tunnel in Thailand.
Khao Phlueng Tunnel 362.44 m (1,189.1 ft) Uttaradit and Phrae Province
Huai Mae Lan Tunnel 130.20 m (427.2 ft) Phrae Province
Pang Tub Khob Tunnel 120.09 m (394.0 ft) Uttaradit Province The shortest railway tunnel in Thailand.

See also

References

  1. ^ The History of Den Chai–Chiang Khong Dual-Track Railway Project, 1 March 2023
  2. ^ "Excavation Begin on 6.2-Kilometer Railway Tunnel in Chiang Rai". Chiang Rai Times. 2023-03-06. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  3. ^ 100 ปี รถไฟไทย, การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย, 2540
  4. ^ ตำนานแห่งรถไฟไทย
  5. ^ Rotfaithai.Com
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